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The OP hasn't any money, he's not looking for a new van but to see if his car will tow it.  It's a shame when he replaced the written off vehicle that he didn't match the new car he bought to the van which would have alleviated this problem.

Ali

I shouldn't worry yourself. Unless you tow like a vandal, and drive like a chav, you will not have problem.

Rely upon your driving and towing expertise and tow sensibly and you will be fine.

As always, lower roadspeed, carefully reading the road and correct packing of the 'van, you will never have a problem. The risk only occurs if you have a lapse of judgement or ? and then you will have no reserve in the outfit to dig you out of the sh*t, but that is your judgement call.

For those who doubt this opinion, take a close look at the HGV and LGV on the road beside you. Most curtain siders do not even secure their load!

Life is made of compromises: choose yours and live within them.

Good luck, it sounds like you're enjoying rough times, I hope things improve for you soon.

Iain

Strax you are giving very dangerous advice here!

Firstly it would appear his kerbweight is below that of the caravan's weight.  He has quoted the car's gross vehicle weight, not its kerbweight, which we believe to be only around 830/840 kg.

Secondly his caravan is currently over its MTPLM

Thirdly he is a post 1997 tower so therefore the van cannot be heavier than the car's kerbweight......

Need I go on?

I'll stand corrected if I have misinterpreted the info.....

Ali

If that little Toyota weighs in at 1345 kg then it weighs more than a mk1 or mk2 Mondeo (K - X REG) even the diesel models. Correct me if I'm wrong but that cant be right.

Hi

Haven't towed a caravan for few years but last time I did it was on way to Whitby through a small village with an incredibly steep hill - had to go up it which was an amazing struggle and at one time thought we'd have to get out and push both the car and the van up the hill!! - on the way home it was even more scary as the brakes struggled to keep the van and car slow enough not to be dangerous. 

What I'm trying to say is that its one thing to risk something if you know exactly where you are going and what the roads are like - almost suicidal if you dont - even some caravan sites have very steep access roads to get the good coastal views.

No-one who has replied saying go for it seems to have considered this and no mention has been made of safety issues only legal ones, so their encouraging replies should really be seriously considered before getting a tow bar.  No mention of how unstable wind can make a van either (I mean the weather wind!!).  In any case - camping is just as good and a lot cheaper for petrol!!!

Have fun and stay safe whatever you do.

Fiona

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 12/6/2009

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Strax you are giving very dangerous advice here!

Firstly it would appear his kerbweight is below that of the caravan's weight.  He has quoted the car's gross vehicle weight, not its kerbweight, which we believe to be only around 830/840 kg.

Secondly his caravan is currently over its MTPLM

Thirdly he is a post 1997 tower so therefore the van cannot be heavier than the car's kerbweight......

Need I go on?

I'll stand corrected if I have misinterpreted the info.....

Ali

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Absolutely agree. There may have been a time when that sort of thinking was prevalent, but increased regulation - and hopefully increased awareness - make it a non-starter these days.

With a "new" licence, the caravan cannot be heavier than the kerbweight of the car.

Jim